Public schools in Jacksonville, NC
26 open public schools with an address in Jacksonville, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
26
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
16,116
26 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.1:1
North Carolina median 15.4:1
Charter schools
1
3 magnet · 1 virtual
An overview of Jacksonville public schools
The federal directory lists 26 public schools in Jacksonville, NC: 15 elementary, 5 middle, 5 high, 1 combined or other. The 26 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 16,116 students, an average of 620 per school. The largest campus is Jacksonville High (1,441 students), and the largest elementary school is Southwest Elementary (720).
Onslow County Schools operates the most schools here (25), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 15.1:1, similar to the statewide school median of 15.4:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school, 3 magnet schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 6 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 6 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 6 of 6 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 57% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Jacksonville
Elementary schools in Jacksonville
15| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Fork Elementary Onslow County Schools | KG–05 | 551 | 14.5:1 | |
| Blue Creek Elementary Onslow County Schools | KG–05 | 498 | 13.3:1 | |
| Carolina Forest Elementary Onslow County Schools | KG–05 | 570 | 14.6:1 | |
| Clear View Elementary Onslow County Schools | KG–05 | 535 | 15.3:1 | |
| Clyde Erwin Elementary Onslow County Schools · Magnet | KG–05 | 283 | 12:1 | |
| Hunters Creek Elementary Onslow County Schools | PK–05 | 585 | 13:1 | |
| Jacksonville Commons Elem Onslow County Schools | KG–05 | 506 | 13.7:1 | |
| Meadow View Elementary Onslow County Schools | KG–05 | 520 | 13.9:1 | |
| Morton Elementary Onslow County Schools | PK–05 | 715 | 15.6:1 | |
| Northwoods Elementary Onslow County Schools · Magnet | KG–05 | 439 | 13.3:1 | |
| Parkwood Elementary Onslow County Schools | KG–05 | 457 | 14.3:1 | |
| Southwest Elementary Onslow County Schools | PK–05 | 720 | 14.1:1 | |
| Stateside Elementary Onslow County Schools | KG–05 | 579 | 15.2:1 | |
| Summersill Elementary Onslow County Schools | PK–05 | 482 | 11.9:1 | |
| Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology · Charter | KG–08 | 104 | 17.8:1 |
Middle schools in Jacksonville
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunters Creek Middle Onslow County Schools | 06–08 | 856 | 16.8:1 | |
| Jacksonville Commons Middle Onslow County Schools | 06–08 | 918 | 17:1 | |
| New Bridge Middle Onslow County Schools · Magnet | 06–08 | 482 | 16.6:1 | |
| Northwoods Park Middle Onslow County Schools | 06–08 | 633 | 16.7:1 | |
| Southwest Middle Onslow County Schools | 06–08 | 510 | 15:1 |
High schools in Jacksonville
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville High Onslow County Schools | 09–12 | 1,441 | 18.4:1 | |
| Northside High Onslow County Schools | 09–12 | 1,067 | 17.3:1 | |
| Onslow Early College Onslow County Schools | 09–12 | 189 | 29.1:1 | |
| Southwest High Onslow County Schools | 09–12 | 803 | 19:1 | |
| White Oak High Onslow County Schools | 09–12 | 1,252 | 19.3:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Jacksonville
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onslow Virtual School Onslow County Schools · Virtual | KG–12 | 421 | 13.7:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White44.4%
- Hispanic20%
- Black22.6%
- Asian1.3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.4%
- Multiracial11%
Enrollment-weighted across 26 Jacksonville schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (16,116 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Jacksonville
How many public schools are in Jacksonville, NC?
The current NCES directory lists 26 open public schools with a location address in Jacksonville: 15 elementary, 5 middle, 5 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 16,116 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Jacksonville?
Schools with an address in Jacksonville belong to 2 education agencies, led by Onslow County Schools (25 schools), Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Jacksonville?
Jacksonville High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Jacksonville, with 1,441 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Jacksonville?
Yes. 1 of the 26 public schools in Jacksonville are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Jacksonville schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Jacksonville public schools is 15.1:1, similar to the North Carolina school median of 15.4:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Jacksonville guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby North Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All North Carolina cities